The 2012 MLS SuperDraft is still two days away but team and league executives are already looking ahead to next summer and the All-Star Game. Philadelphia, which entered the league in 2010, isbidding to host the All-Star Game at PPL Park, with Stade Saputo (Montreal), Livestrong Park (Sporting Kansas City), and the BC Place (Vancouver) also in the running.
CommissionerDon Garber attended the MLS Player Combine in Florida, where apparently some lobbying took place.
“We have certainly made it known to the commissioner our extreme interestin hosting the event here in Philadelphia, but we are still waiting to hear back,” said Union president Nick Sakiewicz, who said he spoke “informally” with Garber. “I’ve spoken withthe commissioner, but there has been no official announcement from the league to our organization that we won hosting rights.”
(Of the four candidates, Philadelphia and Kansas City wouldseem to have stronger cases, since they opened last year and the other two venues are both undergoing renovations scheduled for completion this year.)